IP assignment

A signed agreement transferring ownership of work product to the company.

Example

Every founder, employee and contractor signing before they write a line of code.

Without it, the company may not own its own product. This is the most common thing to blow up an otherwise fine due diligence.

Due diligence — The investigation a serious investor or acquirer runs before completing a deal — financial, legal, technical, commercial.
Contractor vs employee — Two legally distinct ways of engaging someone, with different tax, control and IP implications.
Founders agreement — The document setting out equity split, vesting, roles, decision-making and what happens if a founder leaves.

Owning your own product — The single most common thing to derail due diligence. If contractors built part of it without an assignment, you may not own it. (12 min)
The contracts you will actually need — Founders agreement, employment and contractor agreements, customer terms, privacy policy, NDAs. What each is for, and which ones matter. (12 min)
Due diligence — What investors check before wiring, and the four things that most often kill a deal at this stage. (12 min)
Contractor or employee? — Two legally distinct arrangements with different tax, control and IP consequences. Getting it wrong is a real risk. (12 min)
Hiring across borders — Contractors, employers of record and local entities. Three ways to employ someone abroad, with different costs and risks. (12 min)